These Children Are A Most Wonderful Thing

I have this thing for people with special needs. I like them. I've always found myself drawn to them.

Not sure why.

When I was growing up, long, long ago...people with special needs were tucked away and not seen out in public very much. They were never in any of my classes. Now, I did grow up in very small towns, so my public was always very limited. I might have been exposed to more if I had been in a large city or large school system. I don't know.

Maybe, when I was younger, it was the novelty of being in their presence.

What I do know is I never felt fear or disgust. I always felt drawn by love.

All these years later, I have a special needs daughter (by way of China) and a special needs nephew and special needs cousins and special needs friends.

So, when the latest Compassion Magazine arrived I was excited to see the cover story Highly Vulnerable Highly Valued.

Watch Erick's story:

 One in 10 children worldwide has special needs, while one in 5 of the world's poorest has special needs.  

Interested in sponsoring a child with special needs? Click here.

Change a life today

Some people think changing a life for the good is a very hard process. Sometimes it is and if you have the capacity to go through the very hard process then you should. Sometimes, though, it is very easy to change a life.

I've (and Compassion) made it very easy for you.

Change the life of a little girl.
Change the life of someone in poverty.
Change the life, because you can.

You might find this interesting, especially if questions are bouncing around in your head.

Research on the outcome of child sponsorship will be published in the April 2013 issue of the Journal of Political Economy. Research that was conducted by Dr. Bruce Wydick, professor for the Department of Economics at the University of San Francisco.

This independent research shows that children who participated in Compassion's holistic child development through the sponsorship program stayed in school longer, were more likely to have salaried or white-collar employment and were more likely to be leaders in their communities and churches than their peers who did not participate in our program.

So, go ahead.
Take a peek.
Change a life.

I'm leaving on a jet plane

Today is the day the 2013 South Africa journey begins.

On Sunday evening we'll arrive at the Ten Thousand Homes property. I'm looking forward to hugging some necks!


Here are some blogs that have ties with Ten Thousand Homes.

KNOWN
Hearts For South Africa
i believe in love
A Journey of Hope

I suggest you check them out to learn more about what's happening in their neck of the woods.

What will I be doing there? I'll be working with the team at the feeding programs and teaching at the Compassion Discipleship School and whatever else comes up.

And, now, I'm trying to get excited about a really LOOOOOOONG flight or two.

What Prompts and Guides You To Serve Others?

I can't tell you exactly when Matthew 25 jumped out and grabbed me by the throat. I just know it did. It's a group of verses that, if you grew up in church, you've heard your entire life. But, for me, at some point it came alive. It stopped being just a group of verses found in the book of Matthew.


And, now that it has me by the throat, I'm not sure how anyone can casually read it, which is judgmental of me, I know.

If you want to see it in something besides the King's English:
"...I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me." The Message.

There are so many different ways to do the above. Even if you live in a remote place with only the internet to keep you company you can participate in doing some of the above. Compassion International is only a click away. Look at all of those faces needing someone to "feed" them. Compassion does a lot more beyond providing physical food.

If you are looking for something to do in the DFW area let me know. There are plenty of places and ways to help.

Another verse that is almost constantly on my mind is Micah 6:8. I love it so much I made my daughter marry a guy named Micah. Not really. She did that all on her own.

He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple:  Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.

Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly. I repeat that in my head...often. Especially the walk humbly part. Especially when those judgmental thoughts start pushing in.

Check out what prompts and guides others:

Makes my heart smile

I don't sponsor Gabriela so she will write me, but it does make my heart sing when she does.

Discipline

Discipline - That's my word for the year. I hadn't really been searching for a word of the year. But, in the silence of early morning, it came to me.

Since the summer I've been working on more healthy eating habits. I've gone plant strong and stuck with it. That took discipline and when I look back on it, I'm a little shocked, because discipline is something of which I've always had very little.

Then I stumbled onto Dallas Willard's book The Spirit of The Disciplines (I know, I know, it's been around forever) and it has been extremely helpful in pointing out my lack of discipline, not just in the spiritual realm, but everywhere. I've been taking my time reading it so it will sink in. I think I've renewed it from the library three times now.

So, that's it. My word for the year is Discipline.

Vegan Banana Pancakes

Haven't been on here since October. Sort of hit a blog wall. Thinking about climbing over it. Maybe putting this up will help.

Last night I made up a new recipe for pancakes. I love good pancakes, but my best, favorite recipe has the dry ingredients swimming in butter and I don't do butter anymore.

This is what I came up with and my husband ate them and liked them. That's huge.

Vegan Banana Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 to 4 Tablespoons flaxseed meal
1 Tablespoon organic brown sugar (fair trade, of course)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 small banana, mashed
4 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce

In your best pancake batter bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients, stirring only enough to mix. Allow batter to rest 20 to 30 minutes. Cook on your favorite griddle or skillet.  Makes 6 to 8 pancakes, depending on the size you choose.

For the syrup, I blended blueberries, put a dab on each pancake and ate them like tacos.

Yum!